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Balcony Reviews List
Balcony
Classic comfort food at center city's newest restaurant on the Avenue of the Arts overlooking the Academy of Music and the lights and sounds of Broad Street. Open daily for breakfast and nightly for dinner from 5:00pm.
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24 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.3
/
5
Rating Breakdown 24 reviews
5 stars
(3)
4 stars
(8)
3 stars
(6)
2 stars
(6)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Very Good)
3.4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.1
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- scenic view(11)
- good for groups(5)
- great for brunch(5)
- romantic(5)
- special occasion(5)
- great for lunch(4)
Balcony Reviews List
Review 1 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Too Dad
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Balcony was great but is now closed for lunch and dinner. It was a great spot got dinner before The Academy or any theater."
Dined on 03/20/2013
2007
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Review 2 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great food, good abiance
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Balcony is a very interesting concept: Take a big zone over the lobby of a hotel, place a restaurant there so it has views of the lobby and out the two story tall windows overlooking Broad Street. It works well, but when empty, it takes on a slightly eerie feel, but that is helped by the opening to the lobby area. (it's not as alive as 10Arts for example)
Staff is attentive, but when I was there it was to a fault. I would say that I felt rushed when it was pretty empty.
The food was very good. Had the flatbread that was near perfect. Having it pre-cut would have been nice. The lobster bisque was very tasty.
Prices are reasonable for the ambiance, the food, and the placement. I'm sure lobster bisque would be twice the price elsewher"
Dined on 02/17/2013
2011
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, romantic, special occasion, scenic view, great for lunch
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Review 3 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
it took one hour to be served
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"it took one hour to be served our meals"
Dined on 02/22/2013
2007
Special Features: scenic view
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Review 4 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Convenient but not awe inspiring.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Went there due to its proximity to the Academy of Music. Restaurant was not crowded so we thought we'd have quick service. We were wrong. Waiter was quite attentive but it took longer than it should have to bring out each course. Food was tasty but my wife's was only lukewarm and had to be sent back to be heated. (They remade the entire entree which took about 10 minutes but was done correctly the 2nd time)."
Dined on 02/22/2013
2011
Special Features: great for brunch, late-night find
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Review 5 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Every couple of years, we
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Every couple of years, we err and dine here before a concert (we're Phila. Orch. subscribers) or a play. Management (and we go back to when it was the Hershey) still hasn't learned to staff up to meet the curtain times of the theaters in the area. The bartender was also the greeter and seater, as well as doubling as a member of the wait staff. A family at a nearby table left when they were advised that the restaurant could not guarantee that they would be out in time to catch an 8PM performance across the street. The food is good if you have the time to enjoy it."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2006
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Review 6 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Waiter seemed new - High school
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Waiter seemed new - High school or College student and very green. Inefficient, couldn't be found when we were ready to go (realized he was in the back eating).The Maitre D - Wanda was AWESOME! Really helped me make the night special for my date. Really wished she was able to serve us lol"
Dined on 02/13/2013
2013
Special Features: special occasion, scenic view
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Review 7 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
worth a try
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"overall a great hotel restaurant. all five star courses except the main course which was not outstanding. Restaurant is very clean and nice. Would go again to try a different main course thats not on the restaurant week menu."
Dined on 01/27/2013
2011
Special Features: great for brunch, romantic, scenic view, great for lunch
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Review 8 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
We had a terrible experience.
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We had a terrible experience. We had a group of six people, out for restaurant week. First of all, they required a credit card for the reservation, which would have been fine if they were a busy restaurant, but when we got there the restaurant was almost completely empty. They sat us directly next to another table. The food was ok. The entrees were good, but the salad had way too much dressing, the dessert was poorly presented (my sister didn't even eat it). It was the worst dining experience I have had in Philly thus far."
Dined on 01/31/2013
2013
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Review 9 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
- Experience to Remember-
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"- Experience to Remember- Money Worth Spending
The experience was great. My husband and I invited two (2) friends for dinner to say 'thank you', and we were able to converse without interruptions from other guests or from music etc. Justin, the waiter was so courteous, helpful in assisting us on what to order, both for the dinner, and of course, the wine.
Although, we stayed for a while, he was making himself busy, and he did not show any form of impatience with us. We thank you for educating, and hiring the right persons to work at The Balcony."
The experience was great. My husband and I invited two (2) friends for dinner to say 'thank you', and we were able to converse without interruptions from other guests or from music etc. Justin, the waiter was so courteous, helpful in assisting us on what to order, both for the dinner, and of course, the wine.
Although, we stayed for a while, he was making himself busy, and he did not show any form of impatience with us. We thank you for educating, and hiring the right persons to work at The Balcony."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, notable wine list, special occasion, scenic view
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Review 10 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
It was very slow and sort
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"It was very slow and sort of empty, but the food was really good. It's also pretty inside, not as ADA friendly as it should be, you can't fully enjoy the view unless you can go up and down stairs. It needs better advertising to drum up patrons, which is surprising since it's located inside a Hilton family hotel."
Dined on 01/31/2013
2010
Special Features: great for brunch, romantic, special occasion, scenic view, great for lunch
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Review 11 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
the restaurant had very few
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"the restaurant had very few patrons and i can see why -- i ordered an ice tea and was told there were no lemons or limes -- i finally suggested an orange and my server went and found one and cut it up for me -- it did take her forever to do this but at least she tried. We ordered off the Restaurant week menu and found the portions were very large -- would have been a lot of food for the price if it all tasted good. I was told that they were out of the dressing for the salad i ordered -- yet this was a Restaurant week special. Their flatbread appetizer looked like another salad and would have benefited from cooking the flatbread. The short ribs were overcooked and almost unpalatable while the carrots were almost raw. not enjoyable"
Dined on 01/28/2013
2006
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Review 12 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
It has great potential
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Going on a Monday night may have been our mistake. The service was poor: orders from the bar were slow (20 minutes for one order) and food delivery was slow. Most of the members of our party of 6 enjoyed their food, but it was warm, not hot. I found the food very tasty and it would've been fantastic hot. The martinis I had were also warm, not cold.
If I were attending a performance across the street at the Academy of Music, I might try Balcony again, but maybe later in the week, when I would guess there is more business to support more staff and render better service, especially from the kitchen."
Dined on 01/28/2013
2002
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Review 13 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Went to the Academy for a
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Went to the Academy for a show and this is just across the street and it was perfect. With a discount after showing your theater ticket. Will return"
Dined on 01/18/2013
2008
Special Features: romantic, special occasion, scenic view
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Review 14 for Balcony
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
The service clearly was understaffe
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The service clearly was understaffed.I know the restaurant is new but on the Avenue of the Arts there are shows nightly and no doubt those who need a quick bite to eat before a show will wanter in.This was a Saturday so surprised that it was still understaffed. Our server, thought very nice, had a hard time maintaining his section and seemed to do one thing at a time.Our drink orders took forever from the bar to arrive at the table, because the bartender was also seating people, as well as running drinks that were ordered by the 1 or 2 servers for their tables. There were no managers going round to tables, and the food was mediocre for what we paid for. Clearly need more attentive staff or host/hostess at the door. fine dining or comfort?"
Dined on 01/18/2013
2010
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Balcony
Based on the average of (10) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
3.2
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate